|
Each month, Sage, our resident herb expert will answer questions about herbs. This month she talks about HERBAL TEAS and DRIED FLOWERS and WEEDS.
Herbal Tea Garden
Dear Sage,
"I would like to grow a theme garden of plants I can use to make herbal teas. What should I use?"
T eas can be made from bee balm, calendula, chamomile, scented geraniums, ginseng, horehound, lemon balm, lemon grass, mints, sage, and sweet cicely.
Source: The Gardener
Dear Sage,
"I want to grow herbs for fresh and dried flowers. What should I plant?"
M any herbs, including bee balm, borage, calendula, lavender, rosemary, sage, tansy, thyme, valerian, and yarrow, have attractive flowers, foliage, and fragrance.
Weeds
Dear Sage,
"Is weeding really that important?"
I wish I could say no, but actually weeds harbor insects and disease, and compete with the herbs for light, water, and nutrients.
Source: The Gardener
Dear Sage,
"Do you have any suggestions to lighten the chore of weeding? What about liquid weed killer?"
Since many weeds are spread by seeds, it is important to pull weeds before the flower and the seeds fall and sprout. There are several methods of keeping weeds down. Besides hand pulling, you can weed mature planting with a hoe, and keep plants well mulched. Use of liquid weed killer would be unwise, for it would probably do as much harm to the herbs as to the weeds. Weed killer might also be unsafe for use near plants that are raised for culinary purposes.
Until Next Thyme, Sage
|
